Letters to the editor

Published: October 30, 2004 12:00 AM

Don't dissolve Village of HolmesvilleEditor:Registered voters of the Village of Holmesville need to keep the village charter rather than dissolving the village.If the village should be dissolved, citizens would be facing not only fewer hours of police protection, dark streets due to losing our street lights, less frequent street maintenance, but we would most likely also see a major increase in our sewer rates.I believe the most important issue revolves around our sewer system. If the village would be dissolved the sewer system would no doubt be purchased by the highest bidder. The minimal cost would be more than $3.6 million. This price includes grant monies received for the system plus the outstanding debt paid to the USDA Rural Development.If this amount of money would be financed, it could be so at an interest rate of at least 7.25 percent over a 25-year period. With these terms, the monthly payment would be approximately $26,527. In addition the daily operation of the system would be about $1,200 a month. This totals a monthly cost of about $27,727 for the owner.For the individual units paying for this service, the monthly cost would increase 257 percent. Bottom dollar amounts would increase the rate from $44 to $109.59 per month! (Think about it, most monthly cable rates are higher than our current sewer rates). These figures do not include any profit margin by the owner, and I'm sure any business or owner would no doubt be investing for a profit. The final monthly cost for each unit could be anyone's guess and could be raised anytime.I know some citizens of Holmesville have been unhappy about the condition of our village, but all improvements have a price. When our village has people who have chosen not to pay for the utility of the sewer system, "just to get the council's attention," this absence of funds for our village makes payment on the debt very difficult. Where does our village get the extra funds to meet its debt obligation?We have a great little community here in Holmesville. Citizens of Holmesville, keep our village charter. Vote no on Nov. 2. Attend council meetings to voice your concerns, work with our council or get involved as a council member to tackle the problems facing our village. We need to protect our investments, the history, and the community of our village.Marcia CarpenterHolmesvilleEmbryonic stem cell research is not the answerEditor:In response to a letter on Oct. 13, I'm sorry about your husband's diagnosis of ALS, but embryonic stem cell research is not the answer. Our "nightmare" happened more than 15 years ago with our son, Lee, becoming severely/permanently disabled with a brain injury. As much as we care for Lee and would love to see the day he is "whole," we do not stand for embryonic stem cell research to possibly help him for this reason.Bush is not against stem cell research, just embryonic stem cell research. The human embryo must be destroyed in order to harvest its stem cells. Bush agreed to allow the embryos already destroyed and frozen to be used, but he is against destroying anymore or producing more embryos for the purpose of destroying them for research.Adult stem cells and embryonic germ cells (from miscarriages) have already been successfully used for many years. No therapies in humans have been successful in curing or helping illnesses using embryonic stem cells to date. Adult stem cells from umbilical cords, placentas, amniotic fluid, adult tissue and even cadavers have all had success. Bush does not contest these practices.Kerry is definitely not pro-life, so he has no qualms about embryonic stem cell research. His record speaks for itself. He is not a friend of the disabled or the unborn. I agree with Dr. James Dobson when he says that if a candidate has respect for all life then all the other issues fall into place. To create embryos for the intent to harvest them is wrong.I believe God will not bless research that forfeits one life to attempt to save another.We vote pro-life. Please vote for George W. Bush.(P.S. I would like to acknowledge and thank George's brother, Jeb, for all the advocacy he has done for Terry Schiavo and her family in Florida.)Janet NussbaumShreve